Bestowed by Springfield Museums African Hall subcommittee.
The African Hall subcommittee of the Springfield Museums will present the 22nd annual Ubora Award to area volunteers Katie and Bob Glasgow, and the fifth annual Ahadi Youth Award to Raekwon Wheeler, a Springfield Central High senior, during a ceremony Sept. 21 at 6 p.m. at the Michele & Donald D’Amour Museum of Fine Arts at the Quadrangle.
The Ubora Award, which means excellence in Swahili, is presented to an African-American who has made a significant contribution to the greater Springfield area. The Ahadi Youth Award, which means promise, is presented to an African-American young person who demonstrates strong character, leadership, academic achievement, and future potential.
The Glasgows, long-time area residents, both retired after 41 years on the job ( Bob Glasgow, from the U.S. Postal Service; his wife, from employment as a histology technician at Noble Hospital, in Westfield, the now closed Ludlow Hospital, and Baystate Medical Center).
They two who, between them, volunteer at 17 different area agencies, were nominated for their community service, according to a museums' release.
An incoming senior, youth winner Wheeler is in the top 5 percent of his class at Central. He was junior class president, and is news anchor for the school’s broadcasting network, and a member of the National Honor Society.
Raekwon Wheeler Katie Glasgow has had many varied volunteer positions at First Church of Christ, United Church of Christ, including: social chair of the Women’s Benevolent Society, Sunday school teacher and coordinator, flower deliverer to the sick, delegate to the Council of Churches, director of Cradle Roll, chairman of the board of deacons, and an executive role on the church and ministry committee for Hampden Association, UCC.
She is also a volunteer at the Springfield Library, and is part of the STARR program at Carew Street Head Start, and at Liberty Street School’s kindergarten at which she helps young children to learn to read.
Bob Glasgow delivers communion to the sick and shut-ins of his church, delivers food through the Mason-Wright Center and the Urban League, reads to children at Kensington School, attends board of trustee meetings at Classical Condominiums, and helps as an usher at the Majestic Theater in West Springfield, and Springfield Symphony Hall.
He is active in the United Way of Pioneer Valley, and gives public speeches on behalf of the chapter to numerous companies. He is also a Faith-in-Action representative, and vice president of the Armoury-Quadrangle Civic Association.
Wheeler, the Ahadi Youth Award winner, contributes by mentoring youth, and assisting at events at the YMCA. He attended the Conference on National Affairs last summer, represented Massachusetts at the national level of the YMCA’s Youth-in-Government program, and also participated in the “Keep Springfield Beautiful” initiative program.
Along with his academic and service activities, Raekwon has an internship with the Baystate Medical Center and Allied Youth Program.
The Ubora and Ahadi Award presentations will be followed by a reception at the Springfield Science Museum at Quadrangle.
Admission to the event is $15 for adults and $10 for children under 12. For information or advance reservations, call (413) 263-6800, ext. 325.
The Springfield Museums are located on the Quadrangle at 21 Edwards Street in Springfield.